Hydrocarbon burner



June 21, 193s. B. v. szAB HYDROCARBON BURNER v Filed Feb. 9, 1934 2 sheets-sheet 1 5 f 0 3313 v C' l 2 uw 6 H 2 L l` n 3.2,.. l. w

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ATTORNEY June 2l, 1938. v B. v. sZAB 2,121i271 HYDRcARBoN BURNER l Filed Feb. 9, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lid 2,121.271 mnocAaoN BURNER Basil V. Szab, jamaica, N. Y., assignor of forty percent to Wilfred C. Rasmussen, New York,

Application February 9, 1934, Serial No. 710,507

s'claims.

invention relates to hydrocarbon burners and to systems for supplying fuel to the burners. More particularly, it relates to burners of the type in which an atomized fuel obtained, for exple, by mixing a liquid such as oil with a gas under pressure, is vaporized by being heated before being burned. The invention is especially applicable to oil furnaces tor residential or industrial use, to oil stoves and heaters, and to various other types of burners of hydrocarbonous fuels. 'ihe principles outlined hereinafter are also applicable to the production of vaporized fuels for various other purposes.

.u ary object ci' the invention is to provide a hydrocarbon burner in which complete combustion ofthe iuel is obtained in an emcient tra nner.

Another and equally importent object of the invention is to provide a system for supplying iuel to the burner which will insure complete atomization oi the fuel, and which will permit the atomized fuel to be readily'controlled.

another object of the invention is to provide means ier effectively isolating the combustion sone oi' the burner from other parts thereof and to thereby prevent backiiring. I

Still another object -ot the invention is the provision of means between the combustion zone oi the burner and the fuel mixing chamber which permits the tree passage of fuel therethrough and prevents the atomized fuel from being burned before passing therethrough.

a stili further object ci the'invention is the provision of means for heating the atomized fuel before it passes into the combustion zone.

Another object oi the invention is to remove the iuel heating means so tar from the atomizer tt (the nozzle of the atomizer is kept at such a low temperature that the formation of gum and carbon deposits are eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ecient device for the carbureting. of oils, to provide suitable vaporized fuels forj'allpurposes. I ,v-

Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and 'appended claims in connection with the accomying drawings, which illustrate an approved iorm oi apparatus embodying the invention.

In the drawings Fig. l is a sectional view of a hydrocarbon burner constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention,

Fig.` 2 is a sectional view of a part of the burner illustrated in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a top view of the heat conducting member illustrated in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration showing the burner illustrated in Fig. 1, and theiuel supply system for the burner,

Fig. 5 is a, plan view of a modified form of one Vof the elements of the burner,

Figs. 6 is a sectional view taken on line t--o of mg' i Fig. 7 is a. plan view of another element of the burner, and 8 is a sectional View taken on line t--t of Fig.

The hydrocarbon burner illustrated in Fig. Al consists essentially of an atomizer it, a fuel mixing tube Il through which the atomized liuel issprayed,'a heater i2 for heating the atomized fuel anda screen i3 through which the heated fuel passes to the zone indicated generally at iii where combustion occurs. The burner also includes an automatic system indicated generally at it, for shutting oif the fuel supply when the l fuel is not being properly atomized and burned.

The atomizer it comprises a device in which a liquid fuel under pressure is mixed with air, steam or any suitable gas under pressure for the purpose of providing a spray of iinely divided fuel particles. The fuel is supplied to the atomiaer by means of a. pipe it and the air or other gas, or steam is supplied by means oi a pipe' il. The manner in which the fuel and air are supplied to the atomizer and the pressure at which they are maintained will be set forth in more detail hereinafter. v v

The atomizer includes a member it which constitutes a valve and valve stem. The valveV memberl i is threaded into but spaced for part of its length from a tubular member i9 by suitable means such as lugs i9 provided on the valve member. The space between the valve member lil and the tubular member i9 forms a duct or annular channel 20. The fuel supply pipe i6 is connected with the member i9 or with any other suitable part of the atomizer in such a way that fuel is supplied to the duct or annular channel 20. The lugs I9' may be inclined at an angle to the vertical axis of the member It for the purpose of imparting a rotary motion to the oil as it flows through the annular channel 20.

One end of the tubular member i9 is closed by the valve member i8 and the other end is pronular channel 20.

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The tubular member Il is housed within a hollow cylindrical member 23 and spaced therefrom by suitable lugs 2I. to form a second duct or annular channel 24. The member 23 has an internal conical surface adjacent the conical head `on the cap 2I and it is movable longitudinallyare such as to give the most satisfactory atomizal tion ofthe fuel. The air supply pipe I1 is connected to the atomizer in any suitable manner to supply air under pressure to the annular channel 24. The air duct 24 terminates in an elon-l gated bore or passageway having an orifice 25 at the end thereof. The passageway is aligned with the orice 22. The orifice 22 connects the oil duct with the air duct 24.

Oil or other fuel under pressure is supplied through the pipe line I6 to the annular channel 20 and forced through the comparatively small orifice 22 into the elongated passageway. At the same time compressed air is forced through the outer channel 24 into the bore or passageway where it mixes with the oil and breaks the oil up into small particles. These finely divided particles are sprayed from the orifice 25 as indicated by `the spray 26.

A valve 21 is located in the elongated passageway .to control the flow of atomized fuel and air therethrough. The valve 21 may be operated manually and/or automatically. A more satisfactory control of the fuel supply is obtained by locating the valve in the path of the atomized mixture and thus controlling the flow of the mixture after atomization occurs, than is obtained when either the fuel or the air supply is controlled separately.

The valve member I8 is provided with an axial bore adapted to receive a rod 28. One end of the rod is located inside the valve member I3 at the end thereof adjacent the orifice 22. The rod extends through the valve member and terminates in a knob 28'. A spring 29 arranged to. bear against a shoulder on the rod holds the rod in the position shown. The orifice 22 may be cleaned by pressing against the knob 28'andforcing the other end of the rod through the orifice. The rod which is just large enough to pass through the orice, may be made long enough to also pass through the orifice 25 when the knob 28 is pressed.

A handle 30 is secured to the valve member I8 for the purpose of screwing the valve member into or out of the tubular member I9 and thereby moving the valve I8 toward or away from the valve seat I8 to regulate the flow of fuel into the annular chamber 20.

The atomized fuel spray 26 is directed through a mixing tube II which is constricted as at 3I. The velocity of the fuel particles is increased at the constricted portion and this creates a suction which draws in auxiliary air to mix with th 4 atomized fuel. Thel mixing tube II is housed within but spacedfrom the outer shell 32 of the burner. The bottom of the shell 32 is supported on a suitable frame 33 which also supports the atomizer III and the mixing tube II The frame is open 1n order that the auxiliary air may be drawn into the mixing tube II. Y

The spray of atomized fuel 23 is direc against the heater I2. The heater which-is located at the top of the shell 32, conducts heat from the combustion zone I4 to the vatomilled particles of fuel. The heater raises the temperature of the fuel until the atomized particles are vaporized. The fuel vapors pass through the screen I3 and are burned in the combustion zone directly above the screen.

The heater I2 is shown in more detail in Figs.

l2, 3. 7 and 8. It consists of a deector 34, a heat conducting member 35 adjustably threaded in the deflector 34, a rim 36 and a plurality of heating arms 31 extending between therim and the deflector. The heater is heldin place in any suitable manner such as by securing the rim 33 to the top of the casing 32.

The heater is preferably provided with a large number of arms 31 in order that they may be sufficiently near each other to thoroughly vaporize all the atomized fuel. The arms may be radial as shown, or they maybe spiral or have any other desired shape. The arms may have any desired cross section which will insure satisfactory-heating ofthe atomized fuel. In some instances it may be found desirable to substitute a perforated plate or a coarse screen for the arms 31 but in all instances the construction must be such ythat the atomized fuel is heated to the proper temperature for vaporization without having its flow materially impeded.

The central part of the deflector 34 is threaded to receive the threaded part of the heat conducting member 35. The heat conducting member is provided with suitable arms 33 which extend into the combustion zone I4. The arms 33 are heated by the burning fuel and the heat is conducted to the deflector 34 and arms 31. The amount of heat conducted to the deilector 34 and arms 31 is controlled by screwing the member 35 into or out of the defiector 34 and'thereby 'decreasing or increasing the effective length of the heat conducting path between the arms 33 and the deflector 34.

The combustion zone I4 where the vaporized fuel is burned, isseparated from the chamber formed within the shell 32, by the screen I3. In a preferred modification the screen is a double member consisting ofl a plate provided with small perforations and a woven screen of such mesh that the openings therein are larger than the perforations in the plate. This construction is illustrated in Figs. l and 2, where the perforated plate is indicated at 33 and the woven screenis indicated at 40. Fig. 2 illustrates an additional feature of providing concentric corrugations in the woven' screen 40. In some instances it may be found desirable to use the plain screen 43 of Fig. l whereas in other instances it may be desirable to use the corrugated screen of Fig. 2.

The perforated plate 33 and the screen 4I are preferably supported by the member' I2. An-

f nular washers of'suitable material such as asbestos are used to space the perforated plate and coarse screen from each other and from the heating arms 31. The coarse screen 40 is positioned' between the heating arms and the perforated plate, and the spacing between the members is preferably such that only a fraction of 'an inch separates the screen from the heating arms.' and the perforated plate from the screen.

In a modified form of the burner the coarse screen 40 is provided with concentric annular "Il e Ii 'w sure regardless of what that pressure may be.t

93,121,2'1'1` corrugations as shown in Fig. 2. In still another y modification the perforated plate 38 and the coarse screen I are replaced by a single corrugated screen 4I such as is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. Various other modifications and substitutions may be made without affecting the operation of the burner.

'I'hepurpose of` the perforated plate 39 and screen 40 is to conduct heat of combustion away from the under side of the combustion zone and thereby prevent backring into the vaporizing chamber; Any screen or perforated plate, or combination of screens and/or perforated plates which will successfully conduct the heat of combustion away from the combustion zone, and which willat the same time permit the unimpeded flow of heated, vaporized' fuel therethrough,.will be satisfactory for the purposes of the present invention. The construction illustrated in Fig. 1 is recommended as an approved form, however, because of its satisfactory operation and its comparatively low cost.

Locating the heater lI2 adjacent the screen It and combustion zone It serves several useful purposes. In the first place it removes the heater from the vicinity of the atomizer nozzle and as a result the nozzle remains unheated. This prevents the formation of gum and carbon and other deposits at the nozzle and results in longer uninterrupted periods of operation of the burner. Another advantage of locating the heater near the combustion zone is that the vaporized fuel is burned before it has an opportunity to condense, for example, on the walls of the chamber housing the atomizer and associated structure.

In starting the burner the deflector 3A is preheated by suitable means such as the gas burner tt or the electric heater t5. 'Ihe gas burner dit is burned steadily during the operation of the oil burner to provide a pilot light for insuring lignition of the vaporized fuel at all times. If found desirable suitable means may. be provided for increasing the flow of gas from the burner tt sumciently to quickly heat conducting member t5 ,when the oil burner is to.be started, and the flame from the burner t2 may be directed against the member t5 as indicated.

The electric heater tt may be arranged as desired. A suitable construction comprises a number of turns of high resistance wire arranged in the defiector 3A as indicated inFigs. 1 and 2.

Suitable leads are provided for supplying electric current at the proper voltage to heat the high lresistance wire and consequently the heater It when it is desired to start the burner. v

The heater I2 may also be preheated by burning suitable fuel such as alcohol or gasoline in the trough Ill formed in the deiiector 34.

'Ihe oil burner is supplied with fuel from a suitable tank 50 through the fuel line I6. The fuel is introduced into the tank through an air tight valve 5I. An air conduit or-pipe 52 connects an air compressor 5t with the tank, and the air conduit I'l supplies air under pressure from thetank to the atomizer. Airconduits il ,and M are connected to the top of the tank Whereas the oil pipe It is supplied with oil from near the bottom of the tank. Suitable valves are provided in the air conduits and the oil pipe.

Compressed. air from the compressor 53 sets up a pressure in the air tight tank 50 which is transmitted to the oil and to the air supplied to the atomizer. Hence the oil and the air supplied to the atomizer are maintained at the same pres- 'Ihis arrangement eliminates the danger of setting up back pressure in either of the pipe lines I6 or I1 by shutting off the `valve .21 in the atomizer, as would happen if -the pressure in one of the pipe lines I5 and I1 exceeded the pressure in the other pipe line. n

The fuel flowing in pipe line I6 passes through the automatic safety device I5. This device which is well known in the art, includes a valve that is normally held open and permits the fuel to iiow therethrough. If` the oil burner is not operating satisfactorily, oil from the atomizer will collect on the inclined plate 54 and ow down to the cup 55 which will drop down to the position indicated in dotted lines and permit the valve to close therebyshutting oi the supply of fuel to the atomizer.

Whenl the cup 55 drops to the position shown in dotted lines it completes an electric circuit and operates a solenoid 56 or some other suitable device, to close the valve 21. The valve 21 may also be operated by the manual control 5'I shown -in Fig. 4. When the electric circuit is completed al illuminating purposes etc.

While I have shown only one approved form of burner and fuel supply system embodying the invention, it is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made therein d, i,

Without departing from the spirit .of the invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that I The atomizing and vaporizing apparatus may also be used to provide vaporized fuels for do not intend to be limited to the specific Aconstruction shown and describedbut only by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a hydrocarbon burner having a combustion zone, the combination of a fuel chamber, means separating said chamber from said combustion zone, a member in the fuel chamber for i heating said fuel, and means for conducting heat from the combustion zone to said member, saidl heat conducting means including an adjustable' member for controlling the heat conduction to the fuel heating member.

2. An oil burner comprising a fuel oil vaporizing chamber, structure defining a combustion zone in which the vaporized fuel is burned, and means for conveying heat from the combustion zone into the vaporizing chamben'said means including a member having a heat conducting part in the combustion zone, a heat radiating part in the vaporizing chamber, and adjustable screw means interconnecting the heat conducting part with the heat radiating part and permitting variation of the eective length of the heat/ conducting path'therebetween.

3. A hydrocarbon burner comprising a fuel vaporizing chamber, structure defining a fuel conducting member extending `through saidv `screen from said fuel burning zone into said chamber, and means for preheating said heat 4. .In a liquid fuel burner the combination of an atomizer for atomizing the fuel, a chamber into which the atomized fuel is directed, struc- 4ture defining a combustion zone in which said fuel is burned; a screen interposed in the path of said atomized fuel, said screen separating the first mentioned chamber from the combustion zone, and a member extending from the combustion zone through said screen into said chamber. said member having a portion in the path of. said atomized fuel, said member conveying heat from the combustion zone to vaporize the atomized fuel.

5. A hydrocarbon burner comprising means dening a combustion zone, a chamber containing fuel to be burned4 in the combustion zone, a

Amember separating the combustion zone from the chamber containing the fuel to be burned, said mesh, a second screen having a fine mesh and means spacing said screens from each other to provide a narrow space therebetween, fuel heatlng means positioned in the fuel chamber and spaced from said screens, and means for transmitting heat from the combustion zone through said screens to said fuel heating means.

6. In a burner for hydrocarbonous fuels having a combustion zone and a zone in which 'small particles of the fuel are mixed with air and directed toward the combustion zone, the combination of a pair of members having openings therethrough, through which the fuel and air mixture passes before combustion, means supporting said members to separate the combustion zone from the fuel mixing zone, means spacing the members from each other to provide a narrow air space therebetween, a heat conducting member extending through the spaced members, and means for pre-heating the heat conducting member.

Basu. v. szAB. 

